San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

My BFS combos: From top to bottom. All rods are 7 foot single piece.

1) Rod: Dobyns sierra ultra finesse 701c Reel: Ark Gravity BFS
2) Rod: Trika 6x light/fast Reel: Bates Hundo 100 LTS
3) Rod: Cashion Icon light/fast Reel: Ark Gravity BFS
4) Rod: Cashion Element medium light/fast Reel: Ark Gravity BFS
5) Rod: Trika 3x medium/fast Reel: Trika Ti 100 ceramic

It's debatable if the last combo it a true BFS setup. The reel, although tiny, does not have a shallow spool. However with the ceramic bearings I can cast a 1/16 ounce bait a long way. I use this rod a lot with 1/8 to 3/16 oz jigs.

Because I get asked a lot on the BFS groups, the performance increase from #4 above (around $200) up to #2 (around $700) is maybe 10%. Basically there isn't a dog among them. And as others have mentioned, there are even cheaper options out there that are every bit as effective.

So what line do you use? What lures besides small jigs?

Gotfish? wrote: Sat Apr 19, 2025 4:00 pm So what line do you use? What lures besides small jigs?

I throw PE braid to flouro almost exclusively. My lightest rod has 5lb., all the others have 10 lb. The leader weight changes depending on the bait, but generally 10 to 17 lb.

As far as baits, you'd be hard pressed to name a bait or technique I do not throw (size appropriate of course).

What I am going to start doing is posting the baits I use here in this section when I post my catch reports in the bass area. That way you BFS guys can see what's working for me. I hope you all will consider doing the same.

Dannicus wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 5:49 pm My BFS combos:
IMG_20250418_171533856_HDR.jpg

From top to bottom. All rods are 7 foot single piece.

1) Rod: Dobyns sierra ultra finesse 701c Reel: Ark Gravity BFS
2) Rod: Trika 6x light/fast Reel: Bates Hundo 100 LTS
3) Rod: Cashion Icon light/fast Reel: Ark Gravity BFS
4) Rod: Cashion Element medium light/fast Reel: Ark Gravity BFS
5) Rod: Trika 3x medium/fast Reel: Trika Ti 100 ceramic

It's debatable if the last combo it a true BFS setup. The reel, although tiny, does not have a shallow spool. However with the ceramic bearings I can cast a 1/16 ounce bait a long way. I use this rod a lot with 1/8 to 3/16 oz jigs.

Ok Dan I’m finally all in. Was browsing the net for a buddy adding BFS and saw the $100 Daiwa Tatula BFS and recommended it for what seemed like a good value. I have two other Daiwa rods that are favorites as well. Then while restocking tackle at ECBT yesterday, they had the same rod in inventory w no shipping! As all who read this can predict, its now in my hands being readied for Barrett this Sunday lol. I paired it with my Ark you referred and swapped the medium Lews over to a conventional baitcaster. Thats a better pairing there as well. I throw a splitshot reaper sometimes, a super light lure, so Sunday will be the test if I can get the same distance and feel without a backlash as my spinning setup.

Congrats Jwall! I have to say I use my 3 BFS's all the time now and only use my broom stick models on the big baits. Rat, plopper, spinner bait, chatter bait, frog.
The lighter stuff is easy to throw all day.

Dfishin wrote: Sun Jul 13, 2025 6:52 pm Congrats Jwall! I have to say I use my 3 BFS's all the time now and only use my broom stick models on the big baits. Rat, plopper, spinner bait, chatter bait, frog.
The lighter stuff is easy to throw all day.

Boy you’re not kidding. Every time I switched to my other setups it felt like I was holding a log!!

JWall wrote: Sun Jul 13, 2025 7:12 pm

Dfishin wrote: Sun Jul 13, 2025 6:52 pm Congrats Jwall! I have to say I use my 3 BFS's all the time now and only use my broom stick models on the big baits. Rat, plopper, spinner bait, chatter bait, frog.
The lighter stuff is easy to throw all day.

Boy you’re not kidding. Every time I switched to my other setups it felt like I was holding a log!!

Yep it's true. Now, honestly, the BFS combos are all I want to use. Well, sorta... I have a couple of BFS reels paired with medium and medium light rods. Not by traditional definition BFS, but for bass, they still fall into that finesse category.

Of the 5 rods I carry on my float tube these days, only one is a medium heavy. All the rest are medium down to ultralight. Really the only time I use the medium heavy these days is when I am throwing a frog.